36 EVERYDAY CLASSICS when I came up to it, I touched it and found it to be very smooth. I went round to see if it were open on any side, but saw it was not, and that there was no climbing up to the top, as it was so 5 smooth. It was at least fifty paces round. By this time the sun was about to set, and all of a sudden the sky became as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was much astonished at this sudden darkness, and still more 10 So when I found it caused by a bird of a monstrous size that came flying towards me. I remembered that I had often heard mariners speak of a miraculous bird called the roc, and I was now sure that the great dome which I so much admired must be its egg. And in fact, the bird alighted and sat over the egg. As I perceived her coming, I crept close to the egg so that I had 5 before me one of the legs of the bird, which was as big as the trunk of a tree. I tied myself strongly to it with my turban, in hopes that the roc next morning would carry me with her out of this desert island. After having passed the 10 night in this condition, the bird flew away as soon as it was daylight, and carried me so high that I could not discern the earth; she afterwards descended with so much rapidity that I lost my senses. But when I found myself on the ground, 15 I speedily untied the knot, and had scarcely done so when the roc, having taken up a serpent of a monstrous length in her bill, flew away. The spot where the bird left me was encompassed on all sides by mountains that seemed to 20 reach above the clouds, and so steep that there was no possibility of getting out of the valley. This was a new perplexity. When I compared this place with the desert island from which the roc had brought me, I found that I had gained nothing by the change. As I walked through this valley, I perceived it was strewn with diamonds, some of which were of 5 a surprising bigness. I took pleasure in looking upon them; but presently I saw at a distance what caused me extreme terror, namely, a great number of serpents, so monstrous that the least of them was capable of swallowing an elephant. 10 They retired in the daytime to their dens, where they hid themselves from the roc, their enemy, and came out only in the night. agony (ag'o ny): great distress approached (ap prōcht'): came up commend (kom měnd'): to praise commodities (kom mod'i tiz): goods of various kinds descend (de send'): to go or to come designed (de zind'): intended height (hit): altitude mariners (mârʼí nerz): sailors miraculous (mi rak'ū lus): wonderful and beyond belief monstrous (mon'strus): huge round cap upbraided (up brad'ed): blamed, found fault with voyage (voi'āj): a trip at sea II I spent the day in walking about the valley, resting myself at times in such places as I thought most convenient. When night came on I went into a cave, where I thought I might re5 pose in safety. I secured the entrance, which was low and narrow, with a great stone, to preserve me from the serpents, but not so far as to exclude the light. I supped on part of my provisions, but the serpents, which began hissing 10 round me, put me into such extreme fear that I did not sleep. When day appeared the serpents left, and I came out of the cave trembling. I can justly say that I walked upon diamonds without feeling any inclination to 15 touch them. At last I sat down, and, after having eaten a little more of my provisions, fell asleep in spite of my fears, for I had not closed my eyes during the night. But I had scarcely shut my eyes when something that fell by me 20 with a great noise, awaked me. This was a large piece of raw meat; and at the same time |